All-optical modulator based on MoS2-PVA thin film

The all-optical approach plays an important role in ultrafast all-optical signal processing, and the all-fiber scheme has a wide application in optical communications. In this letter, we investigate an all-optical modulator using few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin films based on the thermo-optic effect and obtain a long-time stable modulated output by applying polarization interference. By absorbing the injected 980 nm pump (control light), MoS2 generates heat, changes the refractive index of MoS2, and modulates the polarization of light. The obtained thermal all-optical modulator has a rise time of 526 μs.